Thyssenkrupp's Customized U212 Submarine Design: A Compelling Choice for India's Project 75 (I)

India's ambitious Project 75 (I) seeks to strengthen its naval forces with six new, state-of-the-art conventional submarines. In a strategic partnership, German shipbuilding powerhouse Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS) and Mazagon Dockyards Limited (MDL) offer a compelling solution: a meticulously customized U212 submarine design tailored to the Indian Navy's unique needs.

The U212 Advantage​

tkMS's proposed design builds upon the foundation of the globally respected HDW Class 214 submarine, incorporating the latest advancements to deliver a decisive edge for the Indian Navy:

• Unmatched Configurability: Maximum operational flexibility for the Indian Navy's diverse missions.
• Extended Endurance: Fuel Cell Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) grants significantly longer underwater operations, enhancing stealth and tactical effectiveness.
• Power and Speed: Lithium-Ion batteries optimize sustained high-speed performance, providing crucial advantages in dynamic scenarios.
• Technological Superiority: Cutting-edge sensors, combat systems, and stealth features ensure mission success.

Customization and Strategic Partnership​

Thyssenkrupp is committed to a design as unique as India's requirements. The partnership also aligns with India's Strategic Partnership (SP) model, which emphasizes technology transfer and building domestic shipbuilding expertise. This minimizes long-term reliance on foreign suppliers and furthers India's self-sufficiency goals.

India-Germany Collaboration​

The tkMS-MDL partnership reflects a deepening strategic relationship between India and Germany. Backed by the German government, this collaboration positions both nations to benefit from enhanced defense cooperation and technology sharing, establishing a model for the Indo-Pacific region.

The Path to Self-Reliance​

A clear roadmap for technology transfer is in place, ensuring a high degree of indigenization from the very first submarine. This promises long-term benefits to India's shipbuilding industry. Recent high-level exchanges and Germany's commitment to expanding defense exports to India further solidify this relationship.

Conclusion​

Thyssenkrupp's tailored U212 design, offered in a strategic partnership aimed at technological self-reliance, is a compelling choice within Project 75 (I). This collaboration offers India the means to bolster its maritime capabilities while advancing its position as a formidable naval power.

 

[Anant]

If this really is a Type 212 derivative, and includes technologies exclusive to the Type 212 (remember that the Type 214 is a downgraded export design), then Germany just upped the ante significantly.

 

[PARTHAJIT JANA]

They dont offer u212 to other countries other than close eu allies. Wrong info.

 

[Boomeranger]

Why not Super Scorpenes with Pumpjet propulsions and props and facility to add Small nuclear reactor later just like Brazil's designs??

 

[Aravind Raveendran]

Is it actually type 212 or 214 ?

 

[Anant]

Is it actually type 212 or 214 ?

Publicly, it has always been the Type 214. This is the first I am seeing of for the Type 212. Let's see if we can get some alternative sources as well, since AFI has a habit of getting ahead of themselves occasionally.

 

[Anant]

Why not Super Scorpenes with Pumpjet propulsions and props and facility to add Small nuclear reactor later just like Brazil's designs??

Because there is no Super Scorpene design. You can start on one, but with the timelines involved, you may as well divert that effort to Project 76. Secondly, pumpjets are not ideal for small SSKs. We could go for an X-shaped rudder, but I think Project 76 may well have that.

As for Brazil's SSN, it is, in effect, an enlarged and lengthened Scorpene with the diesel engine compartments repurposed for the reactor. It isn't a Super Scorpene by any stretch.

 

[desigandu]

How can we be sure that type 212 modified for India is on the table - shame if it is not. GOI should get KSS3 in to push the Germans…we need stealth design, non-magnetic hull, lithium ion batteries with AIP and VLS if possible like the Israeli Dakar class…

 

[desigandu]

If this really is a Type 212 derivative, and includes technologies exclusive to the Type 212 (remember that the Type 214 is a downgraded export design), then Germany just upped the ante significantly.

We should use our buying power as this is 2024…

 

[Anant]

We should use our buying power as this is 2024…

There is little in the way of our buying power when it comes to this. Germany doesn't need to sell these boats to us. They want to, which means our power is reduced.

 

[Anant]

How can we be sure that type 212 modified for India is on the table - shame if it is not. GOI should get KSS3 in to push the Germans…we need stealth design, non-magnetic hull, lithium ion batteries with AIP and VLS if possible like the Israeli Dakar class…

Sir, the Type 212 is not going to suddenly have VLS and the like. INS Drakon is a extremely modified boat of the Dolphin II design. That said, the Dakar-class are still being designed, and are very much far in the future.

Coming to the KSS-III, the variant offered to us when DSME was in the fray was without the VLS tubes. In any case, Hanhwa is no longer in the running.

 

[Pink Panther]

If this really is a Type 212 derivative, and includes technologies exclusive to the Type 212 (remember that the Type 214 is a downgraded export design), then Germany just upped the ante significantly.

There is a enhanced Type 212 variant Type212CD that Germany is making for Israel’s Dakar class, it also cost pretty much same €1bln, wish we get the same variant also, we need to make sure the terms of the contract are stringent, could this be Typhoon+Type-212 double whammy.

 

[desigandu]

There is little in the way of our buying power when it comes to this. Germany doesn't need to sell these boats to us. They want to, which means our power is reduced.

well - we should have ensured the South Korean played ball (KSS-3 which is also based on German designs) as they are much more aggressive with pricing, TOT and clearly their industrial base (speed of delivery etc.) is best in the world...

 

[desigandu]

Sir, the Type 212 is not going to suddenly have VLS and the like. INS Drakon is a extremely modified boat of the Dolphin II design. That said, the Dakar-class are still being designed, and are very much far in the future.

Coming to the KSS-III, the variant offered to us when DSME was in the fray was without the VLS tubes. In any case, Hanhwa is no longer in the running.

question is can India play this game smarter and more strategically (China factor) to entice/influence/persuade the Europeans (like the Japanese are starting to with Ships masts and will give us more if we work on it; and the Americans with MQ9s, offer of EMALS, GE 414s) to give us the best military tech...P-75Is may be the last (before we have our own P-76s) SSKs from foreign OEMs...when the Germans can do the heavily modified U218 for Singapore, Dakar class for Israel, why not for India...Of course, modifications etc. can not only push up the cost but also cause delays, but we need to get best in class SSKs into our Navy by 2035-2040...A formal NSS, and with active involvement of the NSC can/should/must spearhead these efforts...

 

[desigandu]

Sir, the Type 212 is not going to suddenly have VLS and the like. INS Drakon is a extremely modified boat of the Dolphin II design. That said, the Dakar-class are still being designed, and are very much far in the future.

Coming to the KSS-III, the variant offered to us when DSME was in the fray was without the VLS tubes. In any case, Hanhwa is no longer in the running.

why do you think VLS was not on offer and why did we let the South Korean leave this race - was it our specs, TOT, etc???

 

[Anant]

why do you think VLS was not on offer and why did we let the South Korean leave this race - was it our specs, TOT, etc???

The Koreans never offered the VLS module as part of their offer. Even with their recent offer to Canada, it is speculated that the VLS modules are not present. Moreover, the VLS cells on the KSS-III submarines are K-VLS cells (a Korean design). They do not want to transfer technology for those, not to mention that while American missiles would be compatible with those cells, any SLCMs we use wouldn't necessarily be compatible.

 

[Anant]

There is a enhanced Type 212 variant Type212CD that Germany is making for Israel’s Dakar class, it also cost pretty much same €1bln, wish we get the same variant also, we need to make sure the terms of the contract are stringent, could this be Typhoon+Type-212 double whammy.

No, the Type 212CD is not the same as the Dakar-class. They may both be based off the Type 212A design, but that's where the similarities end. For instance, the Dakar-class will have a VLS module for SLCMs and possibly even SLBMs, while the Type 212CD won't have these.

The Type 212CD is planned to be a joint German-Norwegian project for the time being. However, there is a chance that Italy may order two boats (for a final total of 10), and Poland might go for these submarines rather than the Type 212A. Of course, Germany will eventually replace their Type 212As with the Type 212CDs, and Norway will replace their Ula-class (informally known as the Type 210) submarines with the Type 212CDs.

 

[Pink Panther]

No, the Type 212CD is not the same as the Dakar-class. They may both be based off the Type 212A design, but that's where the similarities end. For instance, the Dakar-class will have a VLS module for SLCMs and possibly even SLBMs, while the Type 212CD won't have these.

The Type 212CD is planned to be a joint German-Norwegian project for the time being. However, there is a chance that Italy may order two boats (for a final total of 10), and Poland might go for these submarines rather than the Type 212A. Of course, Germany will eventually replace their Type 212As with the Type 212CDs, and Norway will replace their Ula-class (informally known as the Type 210) submarines with the Type 212CDs.

Even ours come with VLS module, Dakar class uses Type-212 CD as a baseline and enhances it, even enlarges.